David Julius Christenson

David Julius Christenson, 59, beloved son, brother, husband, and father, died Wednesday, January 21, 2004, at the Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital in San Antonio, TX, from complications following open-heart surgery January 12. 2004.

Born in Concordia, KS, on November 21, 1944, to Lester "Johnny" and Ella Mae Henderson Christenson, David grew up in nearby Jamestown; at Kansas University he earned his B.S. 1966, M.B.A. 1968, and J.D. 1973.

He served in Vietnam in the U.S. Army March 1969-March 1970 Honorable Discharge 1970, and later was commissioned as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force, for whom he worked as a trial lawyer in the Judge Advocate General Corps 1978-1982. Released from active duty in 1982, he worked in private industry until 1984; he then joined the Air Force Services Agency, where he served as a trial lawyer specializing in workers' compensation cases. Dave was an avid collector of old baseball cards, a passionate supporter of KU basketball, a meticulous follower of stock market and mutual fund information, a discriminating connoisseur of reality television shows, and the most loving, wonderful Davy-Wavy and Daddy Bear we could ask for.

He was preceded in death by his father, Lester "Johnny" Christenson, of Jamestown, KS, and is survived by Melanie, his wife of 28 years, their daughter, Kelli, and cats Smokey and Shadow, all of San Antonio, TX; mother Ella Christenson, of Jamestown, KS; sister and brother-in-law, Jeanne Christenson Major and husband Steve Major, of Denver, CO; and by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends throughout the country. He was buried with military honors in Jamestown on January 29, 2004. We love you, Dave, and we have enjoyed the journey!

The family of Mr. Christenson wishes that memorial contributions be made in David's name to one of the following:

The American Heart Association

P.O. Box 15186, Austin TX US 78761-5186

South Texas Blood and Tissue Center

6211 IH 10, San Antonio TX US 78230

The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Fund

1023 15th Street NW

Suite 200

Washington, D.C. 20005